Mark Eager has been at the forefront of professional music making in the UK since leaving the Royal Academy of Music with their highest award. Over the last 25 years Mark has worked with the BBCNOW, LPO, RPO, Philharmonia, CBSO, Halle, Bournemouth, Ulster, English Chamber, Scottish Chamber, ENO, WNO, Royal Opera and Ballet, BBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras, being full time with BBCNOW for thirteen years. He has recorded extensively for Radio, CD, TV and Film.
Initially a trombonist, the BBC commissioned two trombone concertos for Mark ‘The Spindle of Necessity’ 1998 by John Pickard and ‘Trombone Concerto’ 2004 by Alun Hoddinott. Mark recorded and broadcast both for BBC Radio 3 receiving much critical acclaim. Mark was the only UK trombone soloist to regularly play and record concerti for the BBC and was honoured with the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, the ‘Orchestral Recognition Award’ from the ITA and an ARAM for his services to professional music making.
In 2005 Mark decided that conducting was to
take a central role in his career after winning a coveted scholarship
to the world renowned Orkney Conductor’s Course.
Having studied piano, violin and trombone from an early age and conducting
since his late teens, he felt well equipped to take on the new challenge.
Mark was almost immediately appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Welsh Sinfonia and his “clear and highly musical direction” has developed it into Wales’ finest chamber orchestra as recently highlighted by BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and Classical Music magazine.
Also in 2005 Mark was appointed Principal Conductor of Hertfordshire Wind Sinfonia, transforming it into one of the UK’s finest wind ensembles. Their recently released “Holst” CD received 4 stars in Classical Music magazine from Phillip Sommerich who described it as “stunningly accomplished”.
In 2007 after conducting BBCNOW at Cardiff University, Mark was offered the role of Principal Conductor of Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra. Recently he has relished the thrill of introducing the students to the challenges of the likes of Messiaen and Takemitsu as well as more conventional repertoire.
Mark tours extensively, having regular orchestras in Australia and Malaysia and has been invited back to Australia in 2010 for the third successive year with concerts in Sydney, Tasmania and Cairns as well as workshops in Melbourne and various other cities.
Mark has always enjoyed working with youth and is well regarded for his work at the RWCMD, Trinity College London and for the BBC Education department. Mark makes sure that his tours always include some degree of education work.
A more formal training started at primary school when Mark started violin lessons, soon Mark realised that he was happiest when around music. In about 1973 Mark saw the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble on TV and he realised that people actually did this as a job!!
Mark then started piano lessons with a teacher (Mary Bowmaker) who exuded enthusiasm for all music and was painstakingly meticulous. Mark moved rapidly through the grades, started accompanying friends and composing songs.
Trombone lessons were started with David Hazell and again grades and diplomas soon followed; Mark achieved his ALCM and LLCM before leaving school.
Mark started playing the trombone in the ‘New Tyneside Orchestra’ (Conductor: Stephen Pettitt) and the ‘Northern Junior Philharmonic Orchestra’ (Conductors: Norman Del Mar, John Carewe and Yung Wa Chung) and enjoyed every aspect; in the many rests he would sit and watch the conductors develop and improve the piece.
Tony was again meticulous and true to every aspect of performing, be it the music, playing technique or deportment. Mark eased his way through his degree but was only really interested in how everything related to the performance of music.
Mark played in the Salvation Army band at Regent Hall, Oxford Street in the heart of London and became Chairman of the University of London Orchestra, liasing with conductor Iain Reid and learning the art of personnel management.
The Royal Academy of Music beckoned and Mark joined a thriving brass department under the leadership of Harold Nash, Principal Trombone, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Mark’s impact was immediate, persuading the conductor Colin Metters to programme the Gordon Jacob Trombone Concerto in an orchestral concert. “Many of the professors had never heard the trombone as a solo concerto instrument and they were amazed at how musically I played it, the accolades came flooding in, right up to the Principal!”. Mark went on to be the only brass player that year to receive the Dip.RAM the Academy’s highest internal award.
As a transition in to the profession Mark founded, conducted and arranged for the groups ‘New Wavelength’ and the ‘London Trombone Chorale’.
Silver Medal WCML; Orchestral Recognition Award ITA.